Summary

SAI Malawi assessed the extent to which Malawi Prison Service (MPS) has provided Custody, Health and Technical rehabilitation services to inmates. The audit covered the period of three financial years from 2015/2016 to 2017/2018. Auditors found the following: - ineffective implementation of technical skill rehabilitation programs: low enrolment (only 6% of convicted inmates), poor quality of rehabilitation programs (lack of modern training tools, equipment and training infrastructure), lack of post-release support services to rehabilitated inmates; - overcrowding in prison cells: prisons were keeping in custody inmates more than double the recommended holding capacity; - poor quality and inadequate quantity of meals, as well as inadequate provision of uniforms, blankets and soap for inmates; - ineffective health services provided to inmates: lack of adequate and qualified medical personnel, inadequate funding for procurement of medical supplies, equipment and infrastructure. SAI made several recommendations, inter alia: conducting training need assessment for every inmate; negotiating with Technical colleges to provide specialists or training for officers in MPS; improving budgetary allocation towards rehabilitation programs; commercialising services and products provided in Technical rehabilitation workshops by MPS; building new prisons; increasing investment in prison farms; improving on information management by computerising data system; renovating and extending health infrastructure in prison stations, and lobbying Ministry of Health to consider deploying some civil qualified medical personnel to Malawi Prisons health facilities.